Final Longmont cemetery vandalism suspect found

Heston now out of state; talking with police

By Scott RochatLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
08/30/2013 09:22:51 PM MDT

Updated:
08/30/2013 09:23:58 PM MDT

John Heston, 19, is one of eight people suspected of damaging more than 150 headstones in the cemetery, as well as pushing a Civil War memorial statue from its pedestal, breaking off the head. He is also the only one still at large.
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Matthew Jonas
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Heston
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LONGMONT -- John Heston, the last of the suspected Mountain View Cemetery vandals, has talked with Longmont police, who hope to persuade him to return to the city.

Heston, 19, is one of eight people suspected of damaging more than 150 headstones in the cemetery, as well as pushing a Civil War memorial statue from its pedestal, breaking off the head. He is also the only one still at large.

"We've had conversations," Cmdr. Jeff Satur said. "We know he's out of state. We're hoping to convince him to come back to Colorado."

The other seven are cooperating with police. Six are juveniles who have been referred to the Longmont Community Justice Partnership; the seventh, a 21-year-old man who has not yet been named, is expected to be referred there soon.

Heston is wanted on suspicion of felony criminal mischief causing more than $20,000 in damage and misdemeanor desecration of a venerated object. Bond was set at $2,500, according to court records.

Vandals damaged the graveyard in four incidents between early July and mid-August, the most severe of which came over the Aug. 10 weekend, when the statue was damaged and 106 headstones knocked over. The statue's head was recovered Aug. 13.

The memorial to honor the Civil War dead was donated to the city in March 1907 by the Women's Relief Corps.

Heston's absence meant he missed a Friday arraignment on a July 7 traffic case, where he had been ticketed on suspicion of reckless driving, driving under revocation and not having proof of insurance. He was convicted last year of felony vehicular eluding and misdemeanor theft, receiving a two-year deferred sentence.